Book Two of the Dialogues: Life of Saint Benedict

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: HOW HOLY BENEDICT WROTE A RULE FOR HIS MONKS.

GREGORY. I am desirous, Peter, to tell you many things of this venerable father, but some of purpose I let pass, because I make haste to treat also of the acts of other holy men.
Yet I would not have you be ignorant of the fact that the man of God, among so many miracles for which he was so famous in the world, was also sufficiently learned in divinity.

He wrote a rule for his monks, both excellent for discretion and also eloquent for
its style. If any be curious to know further of his life and conversation, he may
understand all his manner of life and discipline in the institution of that rule for the holy man could not otherwise teach, than
he himself had lived.